Asaf Simhoni

Coordinates: 31°46′26″N 35°10′50″E / 31.773889°N 35.180556°E / 31.773889; 35.180556
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Asaf Simhoni
Ajlun Castle, Jordan
Buried
Mount Herzl National Military Cemetery[1]
31°46′26″N 35°10′50″E / 31.773889°N 35.180556°E / 31.773889; 35.180556
Allegiance Israel
Service/branch
Years of service1938 - November 6, 1956
Rank Aluf (posthumously)
Commands held
Battles/wars
Memorials
  • Southern Command Training Camp
  • Military Library at Tel Aviv University[2]
  • Various streets in many cities in Israel
Spouse(s)Delilah Aisrzon (m. 1943; d. 1952)

Asaf Simhoni (Also spelled Asaf Simchoni; Hebrew: אסף שמחוני; October 9, 1922 - November 6, 1956[1]) was a major general in the IDF, served as head of Northern Command, Assistant Head of Operations Directorate, and later as the Head of Southern Command.[3] Simhoni headed Israel's main effort during the Suez Crisis. He died on the night the war ended in a plane crash on the way to Haifa.[3][4][5]

Biography

Simhoni's wife Delilah and their three children. Left to right: Yoav, Avner, YiftahTel-Yosef; 1952

Asaf Simhoni was born on October 9, 1922.

Zionist activist and politician - a member of the first Knesset and a member of the Mapai party.[4]

In 1931, at the age of nine, the Simhoni family moved to kibbutz Tel Yosef in the Jezreel Valley. He attended the common school for Ein Harod-Tel Yosef. In his teens, he stood out in his initiative and involvement in the community. He was well-versed with all areas of work in the kibbutz, particularly in agriculture and agricultural equipment. His also spent his time involved in sport as well as playing the trumpet in the brass band of the kibbutz.

Simhoni divorced his wife Delilah Aisrzon in 1952. They had three sons. His middle son, Avner Simhoni (Hebrew: אבנר שמחוני), was killed in 1968 when a land mine exploded in the Gulf of Suez during the military operations in the War of Attrition.[7][8]

Asaf and Delilah Simhoni in Tel Yosef, 1944

Military career

Haganah and Palmach

During the

Arab revolt, at the age of 16, Simhoni led a student revolt against the school that refused to participate in the war effort.[7] He believed in turning to the Haganah for protection. In 1938, Simhoni joined the Haganah and actively participated in protecting the region around the kibbutz from Arab attacks.[3][7]

Simhoni became one of the first volunteers in the Palmach shortly after its establishment on May 15, 1941.[4][6] Within two short months, Simhoni was involved in various operations in Syria under the command of Yigal Allon, near the Old Customs House near Katzrin in the Golan Heights. The purpose of the operation was to cut off the telephone lines of the French army, who collaborated with Nazi Germany, in an attempt to prevent their occupation of areas under Mandatory Palestine.[6]

On June 8, 1943 he married Delilah Aisrzon.[note 2]

During the first two years of his service in the Palmach, Simhoni served as a platoon commander. He also served as a guide as part of his unit in the Jezreel Valley, Upper Galilee, and the Negev. In 1944 he passed a platoon commanders course and was appointed commander of the Palmach's first settlement in Beit Keshet, a small kibbutz in the Lower Galilee near the Kadoorie Agricultural High School.

Asaf Simhoni with Chaim Herzog and a Jordanian officer, set the Armistice Line, 1948

In 1945 Simhoni was appointed commander of the Gadna (the Youth Battalions) in Haifa.[4][6] There he struggled with the British which prevented the entry of illegal immigrants to Israel. He participated in a number of campaigns that aided illegal immigrants to get to the shores.

On Saturday, June 29, 1946 ("

1947–1949 Palestine war.[7]

In November 1947, Simhoni returned to service for the

Bet She'an Valley. They also fought in the Battle of Mishmar HaEmek against the Arab Liberation Army of al-Qawuqji. A battle that begun with an attack against Mishmar HaEmek with the intent of taking the kibbutz which was strategically situated beside the main road between Jenin and Haifa.[9]

In May 1948, Simhoni was appointed commander of company B (the "religious company"), a company composed of religious and secular recruits. After the end of a short amount of training, he commanded a platoon in

Lake Hula in order to open a route Tiberias-Rosh Pinna. At the end of the month they fought against the Lebanese army in Operation Yiftach[4] with the goal of capturing the eastern Galilee. For his service and involvement in these battles, he was praised by the commander of the Palmach, Yigal Allon
.

Asaf Simhoni, 1st Battalion Commander, Yiftach; 1948
Asaf Simhoni as Commander of 1st Battalion, Yiftach Brigade, 1948

In June 1948, the Yiftach Brigade was moved to central Israel. As part of Operation Yoram, Simhoni's company recaptured kibbutz Gezer.

After a brief respite, Simhoni was appointed deputy commander of the battalion. In that capacity, he participated in the battles of the conquest of

Battle of Khirbet Mahaz near Kibbutz Beit Kama. They later fought in Operation Yoav with the goal of opening a route through the Negev to the outskirts of Gaza
.

In total, Simhoni participated in the War in around 40 battles as a company commander, deputy commander and a battalion commander. Following the war, Simhoni was one of the most combat-experienced officers in the military.

In early 1949, Simhoni was part of the political storm that took place in the early years of the state.

Constituent Assembly which took place on January 25, 1949. Mapai was the only party to include four military men in high spots on its ticket. The two highest spots were: Moshe Dayan, in the 10th place followed by Simhoni in 12th place. Both were invited to the Constituent Assembly. Simhoni resigned immediately after the elections and did not attend.[10][11]

Israel Defense Forces

Simhoni (center), Northern Command, August 1953
Raful Eitan

After the

lieutenant colonel. The brigade was turned into the 11th Division
of the IDF.

In there, he held a number of senior positions while being on a relatively speedy promotion track. He became the Deputy Commander of the regimental school under the command of Yitzhak Rabin, later the brigade commander of the 17th Division and then Commander of the Golani Brigade.

From 1952 to 1954 Simhoni was the deputy head of

Paratroopers Brigade under the command of Ariel Sharon. There he also dealt with organizing and training the Armored Corps
shortly after its formation.

In February 1956 Simhoni was sent to a senior officer training course in England where he excelled in his studied.

brigadier.[3]

In this capacity Simhoni participated in the Sinai campaign in an attempt to eradicate the Egyptian army in the Sinai Peninsula, aid with the opening of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli ships the cessation of terrorism in southern Israel.

Sinai War

Asaf Simhoni interviews in IDF Radio after the Sinai War, 1956
Sharm el-Sheikh; on the right brigade commander Avraham Yoffe
.

On October 29, 1956, with the start of the war, Simhoni selected to lead the attack on the central sector of

Abu-Ageila, applying an indirect approach.[12]

On November 2, Simhoni led his troops in the occupation of Gaza which ended with the surrender of the local governor and commander of the armed forces in the Gaza Strip.

IDF
combat doctrine has since been based entirely on the element of surprise, rapid movement and maneuvering, concentrated efforts, and quick operations. This doctrine led to further success it was applied to later wars.

Death

On November 6, 1956, Upon completion of the victory parade in

Ajlun Castle, in Jordan (About 25 km southeast of Beit She'an). Asaf Simhoni, then a colonel, Head of Southern Command, and the pilot Benjamin Gordon (Hebrew: בנימין גורדון [14]) died in the crash.[3][4] According to some accounts, Simhoni had a meeting with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to prove to him, using secret documents, that contrary to the allegation of the chief of staff, he did not violate an order when he ordered Armored Brigade into Sinai.[13]

Legacy and commemoration

Simhoni was posthumously promoted

Chief of Staff Major General Moshe Dayan who had sharp conflicts with Simhoni.[4] He was buried in the Mount Herzl National Military Cemetery.[1]

President Zalman Shazar wrote the song "LaMnatzeach Misfad" (Hebrew: למנצח מִספד) in his memory.

Notes

  1. ^ Her actual surname is "Simhoni"; however it was customary for Russian speakers to add a "t" (Hebrew: "ת") suffix to surnames of women
  2. ^ Delilah's father, Zeev Aisrzon, who was a key activist in the Histadrut and Mapai, later changed his name to Leon.
  3. ^ Simhoni would have received an Aluf (Major General) rank had he not been killed due to his seniority as well as due to his successful service as Head of Southern Command in accordance with regulation.

References

  1. ^ a b c Asaf Simhoni. "Aluf Asaf Simhoni". Izkor. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  2. ISBN 9781412824880
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 9781932687545
    .
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Yetsiat, Yekhiam (December 16, 2009). שרביט המרשל בתרמילו. הארץ (in Hebrew). Haaretz. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  5. ^ דרורי, עפר (January 17, 2010). "אלוף הניצחון". News1. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  6. ^
    Touro College
    Libraries. p. 3025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Izkor Asaf Simhoni" (in Hebrew). The State of Israel, Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  8. ^ "סמל שמחוני, אבנר". Izkor; The State of Israel, Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  9. ISBN 9789655525571
    .
  10. ^ Weitz, Yechiam (January 3, 2010). "A marshal's scepter in his kit bag". Haaretz. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  11. ^ דרומי, אורי (May 17, 2009). "עד הגבעות האדמדמות". Haaretz. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  12. ^ בלאו, אורי (June 23, 2006). "שמחוני. הקרב האחרון". Haaretz. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  13. ^ a b בלאו, אורי (June 23, 2006). שמחוני. הקרב האחרון. הארץ (in Hebrew). Haaretz. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  14. ^ "מפקח גורדון, בנימין". Izkor. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  15. ISBN 9783937209562
    .

Further reading

  • עמוס כרמל, מחקר: צילה רוזנבליט, אלוף הניצחון - אסף שמחוני, הוצאת משכל (ידיעות אחרונות וחמד), 2009.

External links

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